Jim Gilmore on Energy & Oil

Senate challenger 2008; previously Republican Governor (VA)

Favors drilling ANWR and also drilling offshore

Gilmore tried to distinguish his energy policy from Warner’s by insisting the Democrat would oppose offshore drilling. Warner has said he would be in favor of allowing states to explore the possibility of drilling off their shores.
He said “we need more drilling off the coast.” However, the candidates continue to differ on drilling in the ANWR: Gilmore favors it, while Warner opposes the practice.

Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate in The Washington Times
Sep 19, 2008

US should seek alternative fuels but still drill for oil

The people of Virginia are distressed right now because of the higher gas prices they’re having to pay. It’s manifesting itself in higher food costs. People are concerned about the tuition they have to pay these days. The answer is we have to have a
decisive energy policy. We need this right now. I’ve put forward a comprehensive energy policy that includes wind energy and solar power. We can bring forth conservation efforts but we do need to use coal and nuclear power. We’re the richest of anybody
else in the world.

The difference between Mark Warner and myself rests with the part of the energy plan that will help people immediately. And that means we have to have more domestic oil production and free ourselves from the people overseas.
We have to be prepared to drill in ANWR. We have to be prepared to drill offshore. And oil prices will go down if the United States has a decisive energy policy.

US greatest energy resource is coal

GILMORE: [to Warner]: The difference between Mark Warner and myself rests with the part of the energy plan that will help people immediately. And that means we have to have more domestic oil production and free ourselves from the people overseas. We have
to be prepared to drill in ANWR. We have to be prepared to drill offshore. And oil prices will go down if the US has a decisive energy policy.

WARNER: My position is that Congress should lift the moratorium on offshore drilling and leave that decision
to the states. But drilling alone isn’t going to solve the whole problem. Investing in alternative energy is going to provide more immediate relief.

GILMORE: We need a long term comprehensive, long term plan that deals with conservation, which Mark and
I agree on. But the typical Washington politician, like Harry Reed, who would be [Warner’s] leader in the Senate, have said that coal poisons all of us. And yet the US’ greatest resource in competition with the rest of the world is coal.

Warner promised no offshore drilling, and now supports it

RHETORIC: Gilmore: “You said in your veto that you would not in fact exercise that state authority to begin to explore for oil back in 2005.”

REALITY: Governor Warner’s veto message on the 2005 offshore drilling ban called on the state to
monitor “federal developments on domestic energy production,” as part of a larger state study. Warner vetoed the bill because it encroached on the role of the Governor to direct the activities of the Virginia Liaison Office and directed the
Commonwealth to advocate for federal legislation that has yet to be introduced. [Warner Veto Message, 3/29/05]

In January 2006, a study prepared for Governor Warner and state legislators “recommended that Virginia allow offshore exploration for natural
gas and oil deposits but take precautions to protect the environment.” The study “suggested that drilling take place at least 50 miles from the coast and that no pipelines or other equipment be placed ashore.” [Washington Post, 4/6/06]

Reinvest Big Oil profit in additional drilling & exploration

Q: Do you have a problem with Big Oil companies making these huge profits?

A: If you make profits in the open marketplace, that’s an appropriate thing to do. I also believe that they should be going in, putting this additional money into additional
drilling, into additional exploration, but it’s going to have to be bigger than that. We’re going to have to in fact look to all sources: ethanol, biomass, all coal, clean coal, the opportunities for natural gas, and nuclear power.

Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College
Jun 3, 2007

Kyoto Treaty fatally flawed by transferring money to Russia

The Kyoto Treaty was in fact fatally flawed. That was a treaty that in fact was going to basically just transfer money directly to Russia for nothing because they were going to get credits because simply that their economy had declined.
The truth is, we’re going to have to get a program in place, an international diplomatic answer that is going to include every nation of the world in this entire project, and that includes China and India.

Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College
Jun 3, 2007

Nuclear power for energy independence

Q: Do you believe that a conservative platform can also include a conservationist agenda?

A: I think that it can. Certainly when I was governor of Virginia, we worked very hard to make Virginia a beautiful place where we could in fact be welcoming to
people and that it would be a nice community for people to visit. But this is going to come down to the question of whether or not conservatism can match up with energy independence, which is a national security issue.
And it is the fundamental part of conservatism. Conservatism means empowering people. It means cutting taxes and controlling government spending. It also means national security.
Energy independence also can serve the interests of conservation, particularly if we use nuclear power and other clean forms of energy so that we can in fact make this a clean society that is also safe and secure for the nation.

Energy independence nuclear, additional drilling & biomass

Let’s make sure that we address energy independence. It’s frustrating that our nation’s greatness is held hostage by people overseas who control our natural resources and don’t have the national interests of the US at heart. Let’s draw all people behind
all different kinds of resources: nuclear; additional drilling; biomass; ethanol; all the different areas; and additional conservation. The American people have to understand that it is in the national interest that is at stake in energy independence.

Source: 2007 IAFF Presidential Forum in Washington DC
Mar 14, 2007

Voluntary partnerships reduce greenhouse gases economically.

Gilmore adopted the National Governors Association policy:

Considering the evidence and the risks of both overreaction and underreaction, the Governors recommend that the federal government continue its climate research, including regional climate research, to improve scientific understanding of global climate change. The Governors also recommend taking steps that are cost-effective and offer other social and economic benefits beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the Governors support voluntary partnerships to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while achieving other economic and environmental goals.

The Governors are committed to working in partnership with the federal government, businesses, environmental groups, and others to develop and implement voluntary programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in conjunction with conserving energy, protecting the environment, and strengthening the economy.

The Governors urge that those
who have successfully achieved reductions of greenhouse emissions receive appropriate credit for their early actions. The Governors strongly encourage these kinds of voluntary efforts.

The Governors believe that federally required implementation of any treaty provisions, including those that mandate limits or reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, must not occur before the U.S. Senate ratifies an international agreement and Congress passes enabling legislation.

The Governors support continued federal funding for research and development technology in this area. They also believe it is essential to engage the private sector by fostering technology partnerships between industry and government. Public-private partnerships serve to achieve desired environmental goals, speed the introduction of new technologies to the marketplace, and meet consumer needs and product affordability goals, while avoiding market distortions and job losses.

Kyoto Treaty must include reductions by all countries.

Gilmore adopted the National Governors Association policy:

The Governors recommend that the federal government continue to seek the advice of state and local officials and nongovernmental organizations with expertise in economic, trade, jobs, public health, and environmental issues and assess the potential economic and environmental consequences of proposed policies and measures, including a thorough and broadly accepted analysis of costs and benefits. The Governors recommend that the US:

not sign or ratify any agreement that mandates new commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the US, unless such an agreement mandates new specific scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for developing countries within the same compliance period;

aggressively undertake strategies for including emissions-reduction commitments from developing countries;

not sign or ratify any agreement that would result in serious harm to the US economy;

support flexible policies and measures in
continuing negotiations that provide an opportunity for the US to meet global environmental goals without jeopardizing US jobs, trade, or economic competitiveness;

insist on flexible implementation timetables in continuing negotiations that permit affected parties adequate time to plan strategies for meeting commitments; and

ensure that no single sector, state, or nation is disproportionately disadvantaged by the implementation of international policies.

If appropriate international commitments are established and are ratified by the US, the Governors believe implementation should be allowed to be achieved through cost-effective market-based activities, which account for scientifically verifiable and accountable reductions in greenhouse gas levels regardless of where the reductions are achieved. Any multinational emissions trading program must provide a flexible and workable framework that takes full advantage of market forces and maximizes international participation.

More funding to develop domestic energy supplies.

Gilmore signed the Southern Governors' Association resolution:

Whereas, our nation is lacking in the infrastructure necessary to drive our growing technology-based economy with reliable, high-quality, affordable energy supplies; deficient in efficiency improvements that enable the balance of supply and demand; and subject to the market volatility of some fuels;

Whereas, in order to maintain the world’s strongest economy coupled with a clean environment, we need to support and develop policies and technologies that enable a diversity of domestic energy resources to be utilized throughout the region;

Whereas, the United States’ electricity transmission grid is the most reliable in the world, but the increasing demand for electricity, the expanding competitive electricity market and related regulatory and jurisdictional issues create a challenge to maintaining national reliability of the transmission grid that was designed and constructed to serve local needs rather than to serve a rapidly growing national
wholesale market;

Resolved, that the Southern Governors’ Association urges Congress and the President to provide in any national energy policy:

adequate funding and incentives for further development of clean and efficient technologies and systems to provide an effective approach to increasing domestic energy supplies, improving the efficiency of energy use and enhancing the environment;

full funding for the State Energy Program (SEP) to expand development and deployment of technologies appropriate for each state and each region and to develop and maintain energy emergency response mechanisms, exercises and programs in the states and the region;

consolidated and efficient method for siting of electric transmission lines across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining the states’ primary authority and developed in close consultation with the nation’s governors.

Use federal funds for nuclear cleanup, with state input.

Gilmore signed the Southern Governors' Association resolution:

Whereas, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens by maintaining safe and clear strategies for the transportation, disposition and environmental clean-up of the nation’s nuclear materials, including nuclear weapons materials, at DOE nuclear energy and weapons complexes; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Southern Governors’ Association urges Congress and the President in any national energy policy:

provide full funding for all of DOE’s past and present commitments related to clean-up operations at DOE nuclear energy and weapons complexes and disposition plans for nuclear materials, including nuclear weapons materials;

provide full funding for all state public health and environmental sampling and analysis activities at DOE nuclear energy and weapons complexes;

and provide clear instruction to DOE that states’ rights must be respected and that plans regarding DOE sites for processing of DOE research and weapons waste must be made in consultation with the various states concluding in mutually agreeable terms.

Share offshore oil development revenue with states.

Gilmore signed the Southern Governors' Association resolution:

Whereas, the coastal regions of the US are fragile environmentally and under intense pressure from onshore support activities for the development of the nation’s oil and natural gas resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS);

Whereas, each year the federal government receives billions of dollars in revenues from the development of oil and natural gas resources on the OCS, a capital asset of this nation;

Whereas, the federal government does not share directly with the coastal states a meaningful portion of the revenues from the OCS, but it does share 50 percent of the revenues with the state for the development of onshore federal mineral resources within the state’s borders;

Whereas, states that host onshore activities in support of offshore OCS mineral development should receive a share of these revenues to offset the impacts of this development;

Whereas,, at least a portion of the revenues from this capital asset of the nation should be:

reinvested in infrastructure and environmental restoration in the coastal region of this nation;

used to fund the state and federal portions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund;

used for the primary objective of increasing conservation programs for non-game wildlife species and for programs that support fish and wildlife -dependent recreation;

used for preventing declining species from falling into the categories of threatened or endangered;

Resolved, That the southern governors urge the US Congress to pass and the President to sign legislation sharing a meaningful portion of OCS mineral revenues with all states and territories for the purposes stated above.